Bradford City’s League Cup Heroes; Where Are They Now?

Widely regarded as one of the greatest sport fairy tales of all time, we are approaching the twelfth year since the Bantams completed an astounding victory at the notorious Villa Park in the semi-final of the league cup, to book their place down Wembley way against Welsh giants Swansea City. The day out was a bittersweet one, as 10-man Bradford were swept aside by Swansea, who ran out 5-0 victors on the day.

The mantra “dare to dream” has been ringing round the rafters in the storied stage of Valley Parade ever since, as they still managed to achieve success at Wembley that same season, beating Northampton three goals to nil in the play-off final to obtain League One status. Phil Parkinson’s side, which cost just £7,500 to assemble, achieved an unbelievable season that will live long in the memory of those lucky enough to experience it. But ultimately, the players on the pitch are the ones that managed this sporting phenomena, but where are they now? In this article I will be taking a deeper look into the 18-man squad Bradford assembled to take to the capital, and how this iconic alumni’s careers panned out after one of the clubs’ greatest moments.

STARTING XI

Matt Duke – The Bantams shot stopper on the day, “Dukey” as he was dubbed by the fanbase and the iconic Pulse Radio team, earned the man of the match accolade in the semi-final second leg at Villa Park. Starting in goal at 36 years of age, Sheffield born Matt Duke signed from Hull City in the summer of 2011 on deadline day. He registered 33 games for the Bantams during the 2012/13 season, starting both games at Wembley. Matt’s cup final did not go as planned, as the ex-Premier League shot stopper was sent off just before the hour mark, bringing down Jonathan De Guzman in the penalty area. He joined Northampton Town that summer, of whom he helped defeat in the play-off final just weeks prior, wrapping up his playing days at Alfreton Town, before joining Chesterfield as a Goalkeeping coach in 2017. He joined boyhood club Sheffield United in the same role in July 2020, a position he still holds at the time of writing. Dukey, a cancer survivor, has been awarded a Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE), given to citizens of the United Kingdom making significant achievements within the country, as he has been recognised for his charitable endeavours towards cancer research, including a 5km run in London’s Victoria Park with his Hull City teammates.

Stephen Darby – Arguably the clubs greatest ever captain, affectionately referred to as “Darbs” started his career with boyhood club and European giants, Liverpool, captaining their youth side. He played 3 competitive games for the Reds, two of them coming in the UEFA Champions league at PSV Eindhoven and Fiorentina respectively. After 3 loan moves away from Anfield, he joined Bradford City in August of 2012, being an ever present in the league cup run, featuring 51 times in his first season. He was given 7 end of season awards in the summer of 2014, then being rewarded with the captain’s armband after the outgoing of Gary Jones. After just shy of 250 games for the football club, cementing himself as one of the clubs greatest ever defenders, he followed manager Phil Parkinson in 2018 to Bolton Wanderers. However, entering just his second season in Lancashire, he was forced to retire at just 29 years old, after being tragically diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Since retirement, he co-founded the Darby Rimmer MND foundation alongside Chris Rimmer, who sadly lost his battle with the same disease in 2022. The foundation has raised a staggering amount of money, with many charity walks, events and fundraisers to help find a cure for MND. If you wish to donate to this amazing cause, the link is provided below:

DONATE – Darby Rimmer MND Foundation

Rory McArdle – Another utterly iconic defender who played in BD8, Sheffield born Rory McArdle was also named in the starting XI for the final against Swansea. Starting his career out at local side Sheffield Wednesday, he would appear for a solitary minute for the Owls, coming off the bench against Plymouth Argyle in 2006, before joining Rochdale on loan on two occasions, where he would then make a permanent switch to the Spotland Stadium the following summer, after 120 appearances for ‘Dale’, McArdle moved up north to Aberdeen in Scotland, appearing 68 times in all competitions at Pittodrie, also gaining an international callup to Northern Ireland, he earnt his first cap in an international friendly against Turkey in 2010. That would be the first of 7 caps for his country over a 4-year stint, which included 90 minutes in a World Cup qualifier against Israel. He then completed a move back to Yorkshire, signing in Claret and Amber as a free agent in the summer of 2012. He would become ever-present in Phil Parkinsons side, reaching 56 games in his first season as a Bantam. Rory scored an audacious header in the 3-1 win at home to Aston Villa in the semi-final first leg, as he flicked on an inswinger from Gary Jones into the near post, in front of a packed-out Kop which erupted into bedlam. He would also go on to score another important header, as he scored in the Play-off final at Wembley weeks later. He was awarded Bradford’s player of the season award the following campaign, and scored some crucial goals for the club, such as yet another vintage near post header as he converted the only goal in a two-legged League one play-off semi-final affair against Fleetwood Town, sending them within 90 minutes of the Championship which of course, didn’t transpire. After grazing the 250 mark in games for Bradford, he joined Scunthorpe United, featuring over 100 occasions for the Irons, before winding down at Exeter City and Harrogate Town, making 650 career appearances across 17 years as a professional. He is now Lead Foundation Phase coach at Barnsley FC.

Carl McHugh – Following his release from Phil Parkinsons beloved Reading in 2012, Donegal born Carl McHugh made the bold move up north at just 19 years old to sign for Bradford City. He made his debut for the football club in the second round of the aforementioned Capital One Cup, as two late goals courtesy of Gary Thompson and Kyel Reid completed a shock comeback against Watford at Vicarage Road. The then teenager also scored the Bantams third goal in the first leg against Aston Villa, crashing home a late header in front of the Kop end to give the ‘Chickens’ a shock 2 goal cushion heading into Villa Park. Limited options in League One for McHugh sent the Irishman packing, as he dropped down a league to play for Plymouth Argyle, appearing 94 times for the Pilgrims. He then changed his playing nations again, moving up to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership, appearing 104 times for them in all competitions and even being appointed the clubs captain in 2017, a role he gave up the following season before moving to play football in India, signing for newly merged ATK Mohun Bagan, winning the top flight in his first campaign. The now 32-year-old has entered his 6^th consecutive season in Asia, now playing for FC Goa, who play in a 100,000-seater stadium and have seen the likes of Brazil’s Lucio, and France’s Robert Pires feature for the club.

Curtis Good – The fourth and final defender on this list, Aussie Curtis Good began his career at Melbourne Heart (now Melbourne City) in the A-League, before making a monster switch to English giants Newcastle United for a fee of $600,000 AUD, after being granted a work permit. He joined Bradford City on loan after one cup appearance for Newcastle, making his Bantams debut in an FA Cup 2^nd round tie against Brentford, nearly getting them thrown out of the competition as he featured illegally with the club not registering him before the 12PM deadline, this was later downscaled to a £1,000 fine on appeal. That was one of just 9 appearances he would make for the Bantams, as he was hooked at half time in the cup final. He managed to see the 6 years out on his contract in the Northeast, before returning to Melbourne City, where the defender would go on to become the clubs most capped player in their history. He now plays his trade in the Thai 1^st division, featuring for Burinam United.

Gary Thompson – A ‘streets won’t forget player’ in the Football League, technical winger Gary Thompson began his career in 1999 for Morecambe, graduating from the Shrimps youth academy. He would go on to feature a staggering 325 times in all competitions for the club, scoring an impressive 61 times across 9 seasons at the club. After rejecting a £10,000 bid from Bradford in the summer of 2008, Gary would move onto Scunthorpe United, where he played 4 seasons for them, 2 of them in the second tier of English football, making 113 appearances for the Irons. For the 2^nd time of asking, he succumbed to Phil Parkinsons project, joining Bradford as a 31-year-old in 2012. He spent just 2 seasons at the club, but managed 102 appearances in claret and amber, scoring 11 times, one of them being the opener, as he scored an absolute screamer against Arsenal in the Capital One cup run. In the 2012/13 play-off triumph, he assisted twice, securing promotion to League One where he played 44 times in that division the following campaign. Spells at Notts County, Wycombe and Morecambe again followed, before dipping into non-league, ending his career at Penrith in 2019, ending a coveted 20 years as a professional. He dipped into management for Bradford (Park Avenue) in 2019, but it ended in catastrophe, managing just two games at the club, losing 5-0 back-to-back, before being sacked. He is now a director at Healthy Human Life UK and is the founder and owner of the GT7 football academy.

(C) Gary Jones – Another one of the clubs greatest ever captains, Gary Jones, despite spending under 3 seasons at Valley Parade, is immortalised into Bradford’s history books as one of its finest ever leaders. In the youth setup at Liverpool as a youngster, Birkenhead born Gary Jones took an unorthodox leap into senior football, at Caernarfon Town in the Cymru Premier, the clubs second season back in the Welsh football pyramid. After a season in North Wales. After one season there, he swapped to the other end of Wales, as he joined Swansea City, then managed by Liverpool legend Jan Molby. He played just 7 league games for the Swans before joining Rochdale, this was the first of 4 spells for the club, as he made a breath-taking 532 appearances in all competitions for the club, a record for any Rochdale player, which included an unbelievable 2010/11 season, finishing as the sides top scorer scoring 19 goals in all competitions, coming off the back of a PFA League Two team of the year spot in the 2009/10 season. Just under 3 weeks after his 35^th birthday, his iconic affiliation with Rochdale ended, penning a 1-year deal with Bradford City, who had tried to sign Jones a surplus of times prior. He converted penalties at both Wigan Athletic and Arsenal en route to the final and he assisted two of the three goals in the first leg, and assisted another from a corner at Villa Park, whipping in a set piece that connected with James Hanson as he towered over the Villa defence to head the Bantams into the final. He won the clubs player that season as club captain and went on to make exactly a century of appearances for the West Yorkshire side before departing for Notts County after he was surprisingly not offered another deal with the club. He spent one more season in the Football League before dropping to the National League with a side local to Gary in Southport, before retiring after a loan spell at Altrincham. Since retiring, he has managed North West Counties Division One South side Ashville. He joined the Bradford youth setup as coach, helping the academy, development and foundation setups at the football club, Gary took on a pastoral and sport role in a Wirral Grammar school in 2021. He frequently appears on the commentary panel for Bradford City fixtures on BBC Radio Leeds and West Yorkshire Sport.

Nathan Doyle – Gary Jones’ side kick, another tough tackling stalwart in the middle of the park, Nathan made his debut for hometown club Derby County at just 16 years old, against Preston North End in 2003. He joined Bradford on loan in the 2006/07 season, after another loan spell at Notts County, and was a debutant in the opening day defeat away at Nottingham Forest. He quickly established himself a fan favourite, with City extending his initial 3-month loan until January. Despite Nathan’s desire to stay at Valley Parade, a knee ligament injury on Boxing Day of 2006 preventing any further discussions. Hull City swooped in on deadline day in January with a “Nominal Bid” and Doyle was subsequently recalled, with Doyle joining the Premier League chasing Tigers. Despite a mid-season departure, he was given the clubs player of the year award by supporters, an impressive accolade despite his absence. He won promotion to the top flight alongside Bantams legend Dean Windass via the playoffs, in which Doyle scored in the semi-final against Watford, his only goal for the club. Doyle managed 3 Premier League games for the East Yorkshire outfit. Minimal game time took him to Barnsley where he managed 100 games in all competitions at Oakwell before returning to Bradford, 6 seasons after winning the player of the year award. He played a further 94 times in this second spell in BD8, scoring a penalty against Wigan in the cup to book a place in the cup quarter final and netting both his league goals in a 3-0 victory over Wycombe. Doyle also assisted Rory McArdle’s header in the 3-0 promotion victory against Northampton, before being released in the summer of 2014. A move to Luton Town followed, but his stint with the Hatters was completely plagued with setbacks, including an Achilles injury that ultimately ended his professional career. A year at Bridlington Town followed before dipping his toe into the management game with a short stint at East Hull, a team Dean Windass also took charge of the season prior.

Will Atkinson – Someone who also played with Windass and Doyle at Hull City, Driffield born Will Atkinson began his professional career with the Tigers, spending 9 years with the club’s academy before being awarded a pro contract in 2006. Managing a Premier League goal in just two top flight career games, He would go on to play 89 games across 7 loan spells whilst contracted to Hull, which included the likes of Rotherham United, Mansfield Town, Plymouth Argyle, and finally Bradford, where he made his move permanent in 2012, after joining the club on loan in January of that year. Will Atkinsons first league goal came in that 3-0 Win over Wycombe, in which ex Hull City Teammate Nathan Doyle also scored a brace in. Will featured in all 7 Capital One Cup fixtures in the 2012/13 season, and started in the final, and played the final 15 minutes in the Play-off Final win over Northampton, before departing on permanent basis to Southend. He enjoyed the best days of his career with the Shrimpers, helping them achieve promotion to League One in 2015, playing 175 games in total for the club, hitting the net on 11 occasions. After two seasons at former club Mansfield Town, his professional career dwindled, since spending time at Alfreton Town and Boston United, before signing for Mickleover FC, where he has been a first team regular since signing in the summer of 2023. Now 36, Will is a construction recruitment specialist in Nottingham.

James Hanson – released by Huddersfield town at 15 for being “too small”, 6’4 James Hanson, commonly referred to as ‘Big Jim’ has established himself as one of the clubs greatest ever forwards, and a Football League legend, due to his goal record and aerial presence and unbelievable all-round play. Beginning his career with non-league side Eccleshill before switching to Guiseley, James notoriously juggled his semi-professional football career whilst ‘stacking shelves’ in the local supermarket in Idle, Bradford. In July 2009, Hanson signed for his boyhood Bantams for a fee in the region of £7,500, with the Bradfordian taking a reported 50% pay cut in the process. He made his debut in a gruelling 5-0 opening day defeat to Notts County. Nevertheless, ‘Hans’ would score 13 goals in all competitions in his first professional season, scooping the club’s player of the year award and earning a new and improved deal. Hanson would go onto score some crucial goals for the football club, quickly becoming one of the most popular players in its 122 year history, Single handedly turning around the 2013 League Two play-off final second leg, scoring an audacious volley and assisting Nahki Wells as Bradford reached the final, where Hanson also scored in the 3-0 win. Additionally, Hanson sent the Bantams to Wembley earlier in that season, scoring a beautiful header at Villa Park to end a 9-game goal drought, a goal that would go down in the club’s history until the end of time. In an impressive 335 games for City, he went on to score 91 goals in all competitions in claret and amber, before joining Championship chasing Sheffield United for a fee close to £200,000, being replaced by Charlie Wyke on deadline day. His time at the Blades was somewhat underwhelming, scoring on his League One debut as they won promotion to the Championship, where he managed 1 appearance in England’s 2^nd tier, against Fulham in November 2017. He left for Wimbledon in 2018, playing just 15 times and scoring once for Sheffield United, and played 34 times for Wimbledon and scored on 5 occasions. A move to Grimsby followed, where he earnt the League Two player of the month award, scoring 5 times and assisting 3 in August 2019. He played 55 times for the Mariners, hitting the net 11 times. Despite numerous links of a return to Bradford since his departure, such a story never materialised, transitioning into part time football with Farsley Celtic in the National League North. He also featured for Boston United and Worksop Town, afterwards joining local side Bradford (Park Avenue) in 2023. ‘Big Jim’ announced his retirement in January of 2024, but returned to Park Avenue 2 months later, on a ‘pay as you play’ basis, then completely retiring in October 2024. He ended a superb English football career, playing 638 fixtures and hitting the back of the net 168 occasions. He now works for Bradford haulage firm Peckover Transport, as a truck driver.

Nahki Wells – The final player Phil Parkinson named in his starting XI, Joint with Shaun Goater as Bermuda’s all-time leading goal scorer, Nahki Wells is branded as one of the most technically gifted and exciting players to put on the Bradford shirt. Nahki, born in his country’s capital of Hamilton, rejected an offer from Ajax as a youngster, and began his senior career at Dandy Town Hornets, having a prolific start to senior football, scoring 20 goals as a 19-year-old. In 2010 he moved to England to pursue a professional career in football, joining the Leeds based Richmond International and Academic Soccer Academy (RIASA), and got men’s football minutes in his Legs with Bradford non-league side Eccleshill United. On January 1^st, 2011, he would earn his first professional deal in Cumbria, with Carlisle United of League One. He played just 3 times for the club and was released at the end of the 2010/11 campaign. He joined Bradford City that summer on a one-year contract, and it was the steal of the window. He scored 12 goals in his first season at the club, forming a great partnership with James Hanson that would continue to blossom in the forthcoming years. His next season was magisterial, scoring 26 goals in 54 competitive fixtures, which included 4 goals in 3 games in the League Two playoffs and scoring the Bantams 3^rd in the span of 13 minutes in the Final. He scored 3 times in the Capital One Cup run, scoring twice against Burton and once against Aston Villa in the first leg, capping off a glorious second season in claret and amber. Now entering his 3^rd season with the club, and attracting Premier League interest, Nahki was the listener of pleas by Bradford legends and supporters who were desperate for him to remain a Bantam in League One, which he did, scoring 14 league goals in 19 league games by January, an unbelievable record heading into winter. However, Huddersfield Town of the Championship came calling, offering a ‘substantial 7 figure sum’ which ‘smashed’ the then current club record of £1.2 million. Nahki would enjoy 3 and a half strong seasons for ‘Town’ winning the clubs player of the year award in 2015/16, before firing them into the Premier League the following campaign, contributing with 10 strikes as they beat Reading on penalties to secure their place against the countries elite. Nahki wouldn’t don the shirt for Town in the top flight, completing a £5,000,000 switch to Burnley in the summer. Nahki’s time with the Clarets didn’t materialise as he managed just 9 games for Burnley, failing to score and joining QPR on loan twice, achieving an impressive goalscoring record back in the Championship. He would go on to join Bristol City following his departure in Lancashire, where he still plays to this day, featuring 226 times and scoring on 46 occasions. He is frequently linked back to Bradford during the transfer windows, something which if completed, would be a resounding delight across the fanbase.

BENCH

Jon McLaughlin – Scottish shot stopper Jon McLaughlin has enjoyed a respectable career in the game, starting his career at both Harrogate clubs in non-league whilst at Leeds Metropolitan University. He joined Bradford in 2008, playing 145 times. Jon was in and out of the side, but did infact feature in the second half, after Bradford were at a numerical disadvantage following Matt Dukes dismissal. The next season, the Scotsman played every League One game for the club in 2013/14, but left for Burton Albion in the summer after a disagreement on contract terms. He would also enjoy a good spell with the Brewers, playing 138 times, including 43 Championship games in his final season. One season at Hearts back in his native Scotland led him to move back into England with newly relegated Sunderland in 2018. He played 90 times for the Mackems as a starter for the club, featuring in the ‘Sunderland ‘Till I Die’ series on Netflix, before joining Scottish giants Rangers in 2020. He he was predominantly used as a backup, but Jon managed to play in 5 UEFA Champions League games whilst in Glasgow and once in the UEFA Europa League, afterwards joining Swansea in 2024, where he has failed to make a Championship appearance to date.

Andrew Davies – With one of the most impressive CVs on this list, Andrew Davies played 53 Premier League games for Middlesbrough, the city in which he was born and raised in and where he also graduated from the club’s academy. Also playing 4 times in the UEFA Europa League for ‘Boro, he bounced around the Championship on loan including, at Southampton, where he made his move permanent to the Saints, for a fee in the region of £1,000,000. It was short lived, as he then joined Premier League side Stoke City the following summer for a rumoured fee of £1.3 million, playing a further 2 Premier League games, but being sent out on loan 6 times in 4 seasons with the Potters, including a move on loan back to Middlesbrough and a move to Bradford on loan in 2010/11. He was sent off 3 times whilst on loan at the Bantams, including partaking in the involvement of the infamous brawl against Crawley Town, where he was given a 5-game ban. He made the move permanent the following season, where playing time was limited due to injury, but was a second half substitute in the final, replacing Curtis Good at half time. Andrew, who throughout his career broke his nose, arm, leg and foot, was known as a rock at the back throughout his career, featured at Stamford Bridge in the famous 4-2 FA Cup comeback win over Chelsea. He played 95 times for the Bantams in his permanent spell, notching 5 goals as he moved on to Scotland with Ross County. Andrew played 103 times for the Staggies in the SPFL, captaining them to the Scottish League Cup, their first piece of major silverware. He moved closer to home with Hartlepool in 2018, playing 12 National games for the Poolies before moving back into Scotland with Dundee FC. He failed to register a single appearance back in Scotland, breaking his foot twice and departing in 2019. He now works in the supplements industry, promoting the sports science side of American based company Exogenous Ketones.

Ricky Ravenhill – Veteran midfielder Ricky Ravenhill was the first midfielder named on the bench in the final. Born in Doncaster, Ricky started his career at Barnsley, where he didn’t play a game at Oakwell. He joined Doncaster Rovers in 2002 where he played over 150 games for the club, winning promotion twice with his birthplace club, then joining Grimsby Town in September 2006 on a free transfer. He joined Bradford in 2012 following a short loan spell, scoring his first goal against Morecambe in January of 2013. He featured just once in the Capital One Cup, a 60-minute cameo against Burton in the 3^rd round. Ricky joined Northampton Town, Mansfield Town and then Buxton, before retiring at Mickleover FC in 2021 aged 40. Ricky’s son Liam is a footballer too, coming through the academy of Doncaster Rovers, where in August 2022, he committed an accidental freak challenge at Valley Parade, breaking Emmanuel Osadebe’s leg in 2 places inside 7 minutes in the 2022/23 season opener. Liam now plays at Matlock Town after a season at Buxton FC, where his father is currently Assistant Manager. Ricky, since retiring, is Head of Commercial at a railroad equipment manufacturing company named CWE Limited, who are based in Scunthorpe.

Kyel Reid – Known for his blistering pace whilst at the Bantams, South London born Kyel Reid began his professional career at West Ham United, playing 3 Premier League games for the Irons and spent time on loan at Blackpool, Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers before completing a permanent move to Sheffield United. He struggled to settle in the side in Yorkshire, playing a handful of games as a substitute before he joined Charlton on loan, finding game time and moving back to London permanently in 2010. However, he’d spend just the singular season with the Addicks, making the move back up north to Bradford. He scored an unbelievable strike in the second round of this competition against Watford, with a first-time effort from just inside the area, flying venomously into the top corner, before his free kick fell to Gary Thompson, whose last-minute strike sent them to the 3^rd round of the competition. Across 2 spells, Kyel played 149 times in claret and amber, scoring 14 times before moving to Preston North End, playing occasionally. He would then move to the west midlands where he played 50 games for Coventry. Reid departed the Sky Blues, dropping to non-league with Chesterfield, before playing much further down the footballing pyramid and closer to home, finishing his senior career at Rayners Layne, of whom he won promotion with in 2023/24. Kyel’s son plays in the West Ham United academy, whilst Reid has played in 7 aside tournaments abroad for West Ham. He recently won a 7 aside tournament in Hong Kong with ex- City teammate Zavon Hines. Kyel did not enter the field of play in the 2013 cup final.

Blair Turgott – Blair Turgott played just 11 times for Bradford on loan from West Ham United, joining as an 18-year-old. He never found consistent football through loan spells and failed permanent moves, but an impressive season at boyhood side Bromley in the National League, scoring 15 goals in all competitions earnt him a move back into the Football League with Stevenage in 2017, but he was limited to just one game in the League Cup. In that same year, Blair was charged with money laundering and fraud by the Metropolitan Police, but continued to play football, with the jury failing to come to a verdict. Maidstone took a punt on him ahead of the 2018/19, season which paid off, as Turgott scored 17 times in 43 for the Stones, earning him a move to Sweden’s top flight, with Ostersund. In 2021, he finished as the club’s top scorer, with 13 on the tally including 2 hattricks, but his side was relegated in the process. However, Blair remained in Allsvenskan with BK Hacken, where he won the league in 2022, scoring in the title deciding match. He earnt two caps for Jamaica during this time, both coming in friendlies. He still plays in Sweden’s first tier to this date, with Halmstads BK.

Alan Connell – Starting his career at Ipswich Town, he was on the books of Tottenham Hotspur as a youngster. However, earning a professional deal with the Tractor Boys in 2001, he never made it to the first team as he joined AFC Bournemouth in 2002. He enjoyed respectable goal scoring records across the south of England, with the likes of Torquay, Hereford and Brentford, but after an outstanding goalscoring 25 goals in the Conference Premier, earning him a ‘6-figure sum’ move back into the Football League with Swindon Town. He spent one season at the County Ground, scoring 13 times and making the switch up north to Bradford. An Arsenal supporter growing up, Connell converted from the spot in the shootout, as the Bantams beat the Gunners in the quarter-final of the Capital One Cup. Alan scored 8 League Two goals whilst at Bradford in 2012/13 but failed to acclimatise to the third tier following promotion, failing to register a league goal in 13 games in 2013/14, subsequently moving to Northampton Town, finishing his career in non-league with Poole Town. Since retirement, he returned to AFC Bournemouth as a coach, where he has worked for 8 years as he is now the Manager of the u21’s with the Cherries.

Zavon Hines – The final man named in the Bantams Cup Final squad at Wembley, Jamaican born Zavon Hines was the 3^rd and final substitute in the 5-0 defeat as City bowed out of the competition at the final hurdle. He made his first West Ham appearance, after a loan spell at Coventry, in a League Cup tie against Macclesfield, in which he scored. His first Premier League goal came as a 93^rd minute winner in a 2-1 win over Aston Villa. His season would come to an end less than 4 months later, after a knee injury left him out of football for nearly a year. He returned in November 2010 in a cup game against Manchester United, where he would go on to play 15 times in league and cup that year. He finished his West Ham career with 31 games in all competitions, scoring 3 times. A move to Lancashire followed, signing for Championship side Burnley for 250,000 pounds in search of regular game time, playing alongside current Bradford City boss Graham Alexander. Unfortunately, Regular game time was not fulfilled, including a loan spell at Bournemouth in League One, he played just 16 times for Burnley, failing to hit the back of the net. He dropped down 2 divisions to sign for League 2 side Bradford. He played in every League Cup game from the second round onwards, except for the Arsenal fixture where he remained on the bench, starting both legs of the semi-final against Aston Villa. He went on to play 41 times for the Bantams, scoring twice and assisting 3. He had a good following season at Dagenham and Redbridge in League Two, before professional consistency fizzled out, as Zavon retired from football at Bromley in 2019, due to injury. In July of 2024, he became West Hams u18 assistant manager, after working his way through the coaching ranks, managing the u14’s at the Irons in 2019.

CONCLUSION

Aaaand… breathe! 18 men on that day are forever engraved in Bantams history, as a side who went to the capital with all to gain and nothing to lose, wrote themselves into Football League folklore. One of the greatest sporting achievements of all time is unlikely to be replicated again. A magical footballing fairytale which will be passed down from generations. Phil Parkinson built a squad full of desire and character, that achieved some special, special things during his tenure, and has reminded football fans across the globe, that you should always

DARE TO DREAM.

Frank Pargeter – Lower Tiers